Fall River unemployment figures remain grim

The only place in the state with unemployment worse than Fall River is at the far eastern end of frozen Cape Cod.

The state department of Labor and Workforce Development reported Tuesday that unemployment in Fall River in February was 14.5 percent, down from 14.8 percent reported for January.

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The Herald News, Fall River, MA

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Posted Mar. 25, 2014 at 9:51 PM
Updated Mar 25, 2014 at 9:52 PM

Posted Mar. 25, 2014 at 9:51 PM
Updated Mar 25, 2014 at 9:52 PM

» Social News

BOSTON — The only place in the state with unemployment worse than Fall River is at the far eastern end of frozen Cape Cod.

The state department of Labor and Workforce Development reported Tuesday that unemployment in Fall River in February was 14.5 percent, down from 14.8 percent reported for January.

It is the fourth highest rate in the state, higher than either New Bedford or Lawrence, two of the cities that also have chronically high unemployment.

Provincetown had a February unemployment rate of 35.9 percent, Truro, 22.8; and Wellfleet, 18.5.

Among older cities in the state, Fall River had the highest reported rate of unemployment. In other such cities, Lawrence had 13.7 percent, New Bedford ,13.2; Springfield, 10.4; Brockton, 8.3; Worcester, 7.8; Taunton, 7.7; Quincy, 5.9; and Boston 5.8.

The figures released Tuesday show that the city added 411 jobs between Jan. 31 and Feb. 28. It showed 37,630 employed at the end of February, compared to 37,219 at the end of January. There were 6,361 people listed as unemployed at the end of February in Fall River, compared to 6,461 at the end of January.

The number of people employed tells a more complete story of employment in the city than does the unemployment rate, according to Kenneth Fiola, executive vice president of the Fall River Office of Economic Development.

“It is the same old song,” Fiola said. “They continue to manipulate our labor force numbers. All you can do is look at the number of people employed.

“There are more people employed in Fall River than there were last month.”

City officials have contended for years that the hike in unemployment the city sees every winter has more to do with Boston officials playing with numbers than it does with the reality of employment in Fall River.

The work force in the city was counted at 43,012 in December. It rose to 43,991 for February.

“Even a blind man sees that is impossible,” Fiola said. “The number I track, the number I think is more reputable because it can be verified through payroll numbers, is the number of employed.”

That number showed an increase of 411. The only reason unemployment did not drop more is because the city’s workforce also grew, by 311, in that time.

In all, southeastern Massachusetts is above the state average for unemployment. Bristol County posted unemployment of 9.9 percent. The state average is 6.8 percent.